Need help overclocking

[Vimp]

I'm a newb at overclocking and I'd like to know how to do it and what it does exactly. For instance I want to buy a Barton 2500+ and overclock it to at least 2ghz from 1.83ghz but I don't know whether this means I need to overclock my memory or my mobo's fsb or increase voltage at all. If overclocking a barton 2500+, which has a fsb of 333mhz, does require overclocking the mobo's fsb and memory then can buying memory and a mobo that supports 400fsb mean that I won't have to overclock them to overclock the cpu? or does that make no difference?

 

[speeduk]

First off when you overclock an athlon xp CPU you can either change the multiplier in the bios, change the FSB of the system and memory or do both.

The 2500 has a default multiplier of 11 and is designed for 166mhz FSB. In order to make it run faster and the rest of the system, the goal is to run it on 200mhz FSB. All that is needed here is a change in the multiplier to 9 and FSB to 200. You need a board and memory that supports 200mhz though.

Once this is achieved, you can then start to find the maximum speed of the CPU on its current voltage. Change the FSB to 190 and the multiplier to 10. When the system restarts it will have a cpu speed of 1900mhz. If its stable at that speed then up the fsb 2mhz at a time until you reach 200mhz. (200x10 = 2ghz or 2000mhz).
If its stable at this setting then change the multiplier to 11 and the FSB to 188 (2068mhz) and see if its stable. If it is change the FSB again gradually checking stability until 200mhz FSB is reached.

While doing this keep an eye on temperatures. Also if for some reason the system wont POST after changing settings, the CPU probably needs more power. Reset the cmos and re enter settings and up the voltage to 1.75 or 1.85 (if your cooling can handle it) and try again.

Hope this helps 😀

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6719742" target="_new"> MY RIG </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=996846" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)

 

[speeduk]

I thought this might help also. Make sure memory timings are auto or SPD in bios for maximum stability. Im running a 2100 at 2.2ghz (1.8v volts) on 200mhz fsb. Its very stable and I recommend the EPOX 8RDA3+ nforce 2 board for overclocking because of its stability and options in bios.

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6719742" target="_new"> MY RIG </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=996846" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)

 

[Vimp]

Thank you for your quick replies. However I still am unclear on something. Am I correct in understanding that if I get a barton 2500+ and want to overclock it that I should get DDR400 ram and a motherboard supporting 400fsb? And do I need to overclock these 2 things if I want to overclock my cpu? speeduk you mention upping the fsb to 200mhz but is that the fsb of the cpu the mobo or the ram? Reason I ask is that I don't want to overclock my ram at all.

 

[scottchen]

Well, when you overclock the FSB, the ram's speed goes up as well. Aside from the nForce2 mobos, the AGP/PCI frequency goes up as well when you turn up the FSB.

I hate Computers! I could only overclock my Barton 2500+ to 2580mhz(vcore 1.65). My Radeon 9700pro core/mem speed won't go above 410/720. I really hate computers!

 

[Vimp]

Either I don't understand, which is typical, or your saying I can't overclock my cpu without overclocking my memory and mobo which I'm not willing to do. I was under the impression that if I bought a mobo that supports 400mhz then I could overclock my Barton which is only 333mhz to anything between 333mhz and 400mhz without having to make my mobo go over 400mhz. Also I thought that if I got ram that was 400mhz then the same would apply there and I wouldn't need to overclock it since its already 64mhz faster then the cpu fsb so I would be able to overclock the cpu without upping the PC3200 above 400mhz. Apparently I was mistaken from what your telling me which is not surprising but very disappointing.

 

[speeduk]

Obviously if you get a 200mhz board with 200mhz memory and you run them at 200mhz, you aint overclocking them lol...

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6719742" target="_new"> MY RIG </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=996846" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)

 

[speeduk]

Read what i said in my first post again, everything you need to know is there....

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6719742" target="_new"> MY RIG </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=996846" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)

 

[Vimp]

Like the dummy I am I don't see the awnser in your first post. Maybe I should rephrase the question.
Does the ram's fsb run only as high as the cpu's fsb? So that if I get 200mhzfsb ram but the cpu is only 166mhz will the ram only run at 166mhz too? Or if I try to OC the cpu from 166mhz to 200mhz will that make my mobo fsb and ram fsb to go from 200mhz to something even higher? In other words is there anyway at all to overclock my cpu without overclocking my ram above what it was meant to be at?

 

[speeduk]

You can select whatever ram speed you want, well almost, it depends on the motherboard. My mobo lets me select something like 50% (200mhz cpu fsb = 100mhz memory) 68% (200cpu = 133 memory and 76, 85, 100 (200mhz) 125 and so on.... Basically if your ram and system bus are locked or on 100% or 1 ration then whatever the cpus fsb is the memory fsb will be too. If you want to run memory different just change it in bios to whatever speed you want...

<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k1=6719742" target="_new"> MY RIG </A>
<A HREF="http://service.futuremark.com/compare?2k3=996846" target="_new"> 3D-03 </A>
<font color=red> 120% overclocker </font color=red> (cheapskate)